Machine for making pleated metal foil capsules



Dec. 8, 1953 RAILTON ETAL 2,661,670

MACHINE FOR MAKING PISEATED METAL FOIL CAPSULES Filed Oct. 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l FORMING STATION e 1953 D. E. RAILTON ETAL 2,661,670

MACHINE} FOR MAKING PLEATED METAL FOIL CAPSULES Filed Oct. 10, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 5% M M 2% Dec. 8, 1953 RAlLToN ETAL 2,661,670

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATED METAL FQIL CAPSULES Filed Oct. 10, 1950 5 SheetsSheet 5 1953 D. E. RAILTON ETAL MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATED METAL FOIL CAPSULES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 10 1950 1 I'll 149/ ZJM IEEEE 1953 D. E. RAILTON EIAL 2,661,670

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATED METAL FOIL CAPSULES Filed Oct. 10, 1950 5 Sheetls-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 8, 1953 MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATED METAL FOIL CAPSULES Denis Easthope Railton, East Bin-nham, and Frederick White, Maidenhead, England; said Railton assignor oi one-half of his share to Ideal Capsules Limited, and said White assignor to Ideal Capsules Limited, Slough, England, a company of Great Britain Application October 10, 1950, Serial No. $9,342

9 Claims. (Cl. 9360) This invention relates to a machine for the manufacture of pleated metal foil capsules from a continuous web. In our prior United States application No. 156,251 filed April 17, 1949, there is described. a machine in which the capsules, fllowing the pleating operation are received into one of a series of pockets or stations in an intermittently revolving capsule receiving head or station, to enable the pleated capsule, as the table revolves, to be subjected to a smoothing operation, followed if necessary by a printing or can bossing operation at another station when it is finally ejected. The revolving head and its amociated parts constitute a front unit, which has to be removed to give access to the pleat forming plunger and matrix and the main object of the present invention is to provide a. machine having an improved design of front unit, which is simpler to operate and facilitates access to the several mechanisms.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of receptacle or pocket in the revolving head for the pleated capsule and which is capable of adjusting itself to the reduction in outside diameter than takes place when the pleated capsule emerges from the smoothing operation.

According to the present invention in a pleated capsule forming machine comprising an open ended matrix in which the capsules are shaped and formed by means of a co-operating punch and associated tool sections, the punch operating to eject the capsule through the open end of the matrix and having an intermittently rotatable table including a plurality of pockets to receive the capsules on ejection from the matrix, the pockets are constituted by a series of arcuate or like finger elements whose positions are automatically adjustable so as to vary in size relative to the dimensions of the capsule in its several stages of manufacture.

In carrying out the invention the table may comprise an annular base to which the finger elements are hingedly mounted, adjacent pairs of finger elements being adapted to co-operate one with the other to embrace the capsule. Each finger element comprises at its outer end an arcuate portion or flange, whose curvature is substantially equal to that of the capsule to be handled and, adjacent its fulcrum end, it is normally held in engagement with a stop cam on th base by means of a spring anchored to the opposite finger elements of each pair. In order to permit of adjustment of the amount of separation of the finger elements preferably an adjustable stop screw is carried by each finger element for engagement with the stop cam. Movement of the finger elements to open and close is controlled by cam actuated mechanism operated from a cam common to the several lever arms or finger elements and so. arranged so that as the table rotates the finger elements will automatic ally open and close in relation to their angular position to the station or stage in the manufacture of the capsule at which they may have arrived.

As applied to the machine described in United States application No. 156,251, filed April 17, 1,949, the actuating cam is provided with a suitable dwell portion located opposite the forming station so that the finger elements will open. to embrace the capsule as. it is ejected from the matrix while opposite the smoothing position the surface of the cam is modified so that the finger elements will close up proportionately.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which Figure l is an end on ele vation showing the improved capsule receiving head or table in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an elevation. as seen from the rear side of the table and showing the driving mechanism and discharge chute, Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the centre line of the spindle mounting the capsule head or table, while J 'gure 4; is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the smoothing die. Figure 5 is a section on the lines V-V of Figure 3 The front unit which is mounted on a bed B forming part of the. capsuling machine, includes the capsule carrier or head, capsule counting mechanism and discharge chute, and capsule end design embossing device designed for use in conjunction with the capsule forming machine described and illustrated in our prior United States application No. 156,251, filed April 17, 1949, wherein the formation of the corrugated or pleated metal capsule is effected by means of a plunger and associated pistons. co-operating with a matrix to form capsules in continuous succession from a web of metal foil.

Only so much of the aforesaid machine is shown in the present application as is necessary to illustrate the present invention. The capsuling machine comprises a plunger (not shown) cooperating with a matrix (not shown), the stroke of the plunger being suflicient to carry the capsule completely through the matrix which is open ended and to discharge the same on the far side into one of a series of locations or pockets L forming part of a revolving table T, the table I having imparted. to it an intermittent motion so that each capsule is carried forward step by step from a position Li, which is the forming station to an intermediary station L2 and thence to a smoothing and embossing station L3. From tion L3 it passes to a fourth station L 's where the finished capsule indicated generally at C in Figure 2 is ejected by a plunger P onto a tray or chute 55. L5 indicates a fifth and intermediary station. S indicates a rotating shaft on the capsule machine which is driven at crank shaft speed.

The front unit of this invention is mounted upon the bed B of the machine so as to be capable of being swung into and out of its operative position so as to permit of ready access to the mechanism as when making adjustment or should it be necessary to free a damaged capsule from the matrix.

The front unit comprises a casting including a base I with an upstanding web 2 in which are journalled the various spindles of the driving mechanism. On the base B are lugs, 3 threaded to receive screw plugs it, each plug 6 having a counter bore 5 for a hinge pin 5 about which the front unit is hingedly mounted, and which passes through machined holes in ears 3 on the base 5. At its other end the base i is drilled to receive fine adjustment screws 8. In order to ensure that the unit is held down and locked in position, a Gone 10 having a conical face ii is secured to the bed B of the machine by a screw ii, the face ll engaging a mating cone l3 eccentrically mounted on a pivot pin 13' carried by the base i and to which is fastened a hand lever E32 which provides a means of locking the mating surfaces of cones H3 and i3 together. It will be appreciated, therefore, that adjustable screws 8 are pro vided for vertical alignment whilst the end plugs l permit of horizontal alignment of the pivot pin 6.

Journalled in the web 2 of the front unit is a sleeve It to which is imparted an oscillatory motion, as hereinafter described, the sleeve being flanged as at 15 to provide a seating for a cam disc l3. Rotatably mounted within the sleeve It is a spindle I? formed at one end with a flanged head 18 and at its other end 19 of reduced diameter. Detachably secured to the head [8 by means of screw studs 29 is an annular plate 2! constituting the capsule carrier or table. Pivotally carried by the table 2i are co-operating pairs of fingers or levers 23, each lever comprising an arm 2:; provided at its outer end with a semicircular or cup portion adapted in conjunction with the opposite cup portion of its associated arm to embrace the capsule. The fingers 23 are freely mounted to pivot about studs 25 secured to bosses in the plate 2!. The levers 23 of each pair extend radially outwards and are so arranged that their outer ends 25 coincide with capsule forming, smoothing and ejecting positions located respectively at Ll, L3 and L l. The arms as of each pair of levers or fingers 23 are urged towards one another by means of a tensile spring 28, movement of the arms towards one another being limited by means of adjustable contact studs 29 and 29, the inner ends or which are formed with fiat heads 30 for engagement with separating cams 3! by means of which the cupped ends 25 are caused to expand or contract and thus to release or grip the capsules.

It should be understood that the table 2i with the capsule carrier arms 25 receives an intermittent rotary motion operating in timed I operation, the carrier will rotate forwards (clockwise in Figure l) advancing the several levers from one stage to the next, a spring loaded locating pin 32. mounted in a socket c3 in the table 2| being provided for engagement with one oi a series of circumferentially spaced radial slots 34 on the perimeter of a stationary cover plate 35 of the head, the purpose of the pin 32 being to locate the carrier in exact position when stationary.

The control cams 3| for the lever arms 24% are each fast on one of a series of pins as journalled in the plate 2i and to the rear ends of which are keyed arms 37 having studs 38 for engagement with a cam track 39 in the cam disc it. As will be seen from Figure l, the cam track it comprises an inner arcuate track section it and an outer arcuate track section it which are connected by shorter, non-arcuate sections and so". Each of the studs 33 when in the track section It holds its connected cam 3% at an angle with respect to the heads 39 of the studs 29 and 2'5 which contact it and thereby holds the associated pair of lingers 23 apart against the tension of the spring 23. When, however, the studs are in the outer anuate track section it" their cams 33 are parallel to the heads 39 and the associated fingers 2B are pulled together by the springs 28 as far as the studs 29 and 2% will permit.

Since the pleated capsules after smoothing are smaller than before smoothing, it is necessary to reduce the size of the pockets formed by the cup portions 25 of each cooperating pair of fingers 23 after the capsule therein is carried by the plunger Pi into the smoothing cone to and before it returns. This reduction in size is accomplished by oscillating the cam disc H3 in such manner that the stud 3% associated with the fingers at the smoothing and embossing station L3 is moved from the inner arcuate track section it through the non-arcuate track section 39 to the outer arcuate section it while a capsule is in the smoothing cone. Thus, when the capsule returns to the pocket the separating can 35 connected to the stud 33 has been turned to allow the fingers to come closer together. The other non-arcuate track section 39" joins the outer arcuate section it" to the inner section it be tween the ejecting station Li and station L5. The fingers 23 of each pair, therefore, during rotation of the table 2i clockwise as viewed in Figure i, move apart after they leave the ejecting station and before they reach the forming station L! where another capsule is received and continue in spread position until after removal of that capsule to the smoothing cone at station L3. Then by reason of the oscillatory movement of the disc it the spring 23 is permitted to move the fingers closer together to receive the smoothed capsule, the lingers remaining in that position while the capsule is conveyed to the ejecting station L l. Each pair of fingers goes through the cycle of operation above described during a complete revolution of the table 26.

Oscillating motion of the cam disc I5 is effected (see Figure 2) by means of a collar 46 adjustably clamped to the sleeve M to which disc I6 is pinned. A stud ii on the collar M] is connected by a link 42 to a lever arm 33 pivotally mounted on a bush Mi on a spindle 35 journalled in the web plate 2. The lever 43 receives its motion from an eccentric B1 integral with a third spindle 5n joulnalled in the plate 2 and connected by a strap 38' to a stud 49 on lever 43 (see Figure 5).

Main drive Drive for the front unit is taken from the constantly revolving shaft S which revolves at crank shaft speed, i. e. one revolution for each machine cycle. To enable the driving connection with the front unit to be readily disconnected, shaft S is provided with a dog I06 (Figure 4), which normally is in engagement with a similar dog lill on a crank shaft extension I02 (see also Figure 1), journalled in bearings 33 in the web 2. On shaft m2 is a gear I02 in permanent mesh with a gear IM mounted between bearings in the web 2 and an end plate I06 detachably bolted to the web 2 and spaced. apart therefrom by a collar 1% mounted on the spindle 45. A second gear i531 journalled in bearings in the web 2 and end plate 166 meshes with another gear 583 fast on the inner end of spindle 59. The intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the table 21 by a Geneva stop mechanism For this purpose the shaft I1 to which the table 2! is keyed has fast on its other end a Geneva cross I23 having slot 12! for engagement with a pin H22 fast on an eccentric flange I23 integral with the driving spindle 50.

Counting mechanism Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, ejection of the capsules from the finger elements 23- in the ejection position L5 is endwise on into a discharge tray 55, the capsule being indicated on the tray in broken lines. The tray 55 is formed at its ends with lugs 55 and is fast on a rock shaft 55 so as to be capable of tipping from the full line position shown in Figure 2 to the dot and dash position where the stack of (counted) capsules collected on the tray 55 is discharged onto an inclined chute 51.

The tray 55 is maintained in its normal position by means of a spring 58 anchored at one end to a lug 59 secured to an end bracket 69, the spring being connected at its other end to a lever arm 6! on the rock shaft 56. 62 is an adjustable stop screw for engagement with a flat 61 on a boss on the arm 6 i.

Counting of the capsules is effected by bring ingabout a periodical displacement of the tray 55 so that a given number of capsules thereon will from time to time be discharged into the delivery chute 51.

Mounted on the bush 14 on spindle 4 5 is a ratchet wheel. 63 having a given number of teeth to correspond to the number of capsules required to be packed (by capping together) on the tray 55 before it is tilted. Associated with the ratchet wheel 63 is a feed pawl 64 (Figure 2) carried by the lever arm is, to which lever is imparted (as described above) a rocking movement to rotate the cam actuating disc l6, by which the cams 6| are rocked, this lever 43' being actuated by the eccentric l1 and strap lever 48. A check pawl 65 is held in engagement with the ratchet it by a spring 65' connected at one of its ends to the pawl 65 and anchored at its other end to the pawl 66 so asto prevent reversal of the ratchet wheel. Mounted on the hinge pin 6 is a rock arm 66, hereinafter termed the clutch arm, which arm 65 carries a trigger member 61. On the trigger 6-1 is a nose or rubbing face 68 for engagement with a circumferential track 69 on the ratchet wheel 63; A radial groove 10 in the track 69', once on each revolution of the ratchet wheel, will permit an endwise displacement of the trigger 61 and thus a rocking movement of clutch arm 66 about its pivot 6 under the action of a compression spring 1|. The spring 11 is located by a recess formed in a boss 12 on the arm 66 while its other end is located ina similar recess in a plate 13 mounted on anextension M of the spindle 45.

The outer end of the clutch arm 66 is formed with a hub or boss 15 to receive a spigot member 15 integral with an annualr strap 18, which is located in a peripheral groove 19 in a sliding clutch part 11 having a mating dog 11' (see also Figure 5). On the eccentric head 41 of the spindie 53 is a concentric projection 80, on which the clutch element 11 is normally free to rotate but slidably mounted to allow the dog 11' thereon to move into and out of driving engagement with an arcuate groove 31 formed in spindle 59, so that when in engagement there is a positive drive from spindle 8a: to dog 11 on the part 11, which will be caused to rotate.

It follows, therefore, that once for each complete revolution of the ratchet wheel 63, the clutch mechanism, including the clutch arm 66 will oscillate inwardly in a direction to enable the dog 11 on clutch part 11 to engage for a portion of the machine cycle. When this interengagement occurs, the sliding clutch part 11 becomes locked to the constantly revolving spindle 5c, and will rotate therewith so causing an angular displacement of the clutch part 11 whichis transmitted to the tray 55 by an eccentric pin 52 fast thereon, the pin 82 being coupled to the rock arm 6| by an adjustable linkage 83 whereby the chute 55 will be caused to tilt and dis charge its contents.

Smoothing operation Referring more particularly to Figure 4, it will be seen that the smoothing station comprises a smoothing cone 85', into which the pleated capsule is carried by the smoothing plunger Pl, movement of which plunger is effected simultaneously with the discharge plunger P', which latter is delivering a pleated capsule at the forming station LI.

The smoothing cone is formed in one with a cylindrical extension as" in the interior of which is slidably mounted a retractile sleeve element as, this sleeve element being formed at one end with an embossing head a? for co-operation with the plunger Pi. At its other end the sleeve 86 is flanged as at as and in order to hold it against rotation, a pin at carried by the sleeve engages an opening in a tubular thrust element 98. By holding the sleeve 86 against rotation it is ensured that the leather washer (not shown) carried in the embossing head will always register with the same point onthe plunger P'. The element Gil is formed with an exterior flange {it which is drilled to receive mounting rods 92 amending fore and aft of the front unit and anchored at one end to the plate d3 by lock nuts 93, while at their forward ends they extend through openings in the web 2 are secured toa flange as integral with the smoothing cone t5, the latter being anchored to theweb 2 by a set screw 55%.

Springs 95; mounted on th rods 92 set up a thrust on the element 26 so as to force it in the direction of the arrow X, that is a direc' tien to discharge the capsule subsequent to the 7 embossing operation. Another end control spring 9'5 is located in a recess 98 in an end cap 99 which screws into the late El and at its other end abuts against a plunger HE adjustably secured to the embossing head 31 by screw 8?.

Fastwith the outer end of the crank shaft extension !32 is a gear wheel I99 which meshes with a composite cam and gear wheel lll mounted on the cylindrical extension 85 of the smoothing cone. A face cam M2 on the composite cam and gear wheel ill co-operates with a corresponding face cam H3 on the thrust element at, the two cam faces being held in contact with one another by the springs 96. In operation, therefore, as the gear wheel i I l revolves, an axial displacement will be imparted to the face cam H3, the respective cam shapes being so designed as to allow a rapid motion of the cam surfaces together so that the inner flange of sleeve 9E will on its return stroke contact the flange on the end of the sleeve 3? with a blow at every cycle of the machine. Sleeve 31 carries the end embossing die and a single blow is arranged to be sufficient to imprint a design on the capsule top. Timing of the blow may be either before the capsule is fully entered into the smoothing cone or during its withdrawal. In the latter case the blow also acts to loosen the capsule from the inside of the smoothing cone.

We claim: 1

1. In a machine for making pleated metal foil capsules from a continuous web having a plurality of work stations including a forming station comprising a forming plunger and a matrix adapted to receive said plunger and cooperating therewith to form :a succession of pleated metal foil capsules, a smoothing station comprising a cone and a smoothing plunger movable into and out of said cone and operated in timed relation to said forming plunger to move said capsules into said cone and to smooth and reduce the size of said capsules subsequent to their formation followed by movement of said capsules out of said cone with said plunger, and an election station comprising a discharge plunger, the combination therewith of transfer means for successively conveying said capsules from one work station to another, said transfer means comprising a rotatable table having a plurality of symmetrically arranged pockets adapted to be successively aligned with work stations and being adapted to permit capsules to be ushed from said pockets into said cone by said smoothing plunger, said pockets comprising pairs of fingers, said fingers of each pair being relatively movable to vary the size of the pocket formed thereby, means operatively connected to said table adapted intermittently to rotate said table to bring another pocket into alignment with each of said work stations, and means operable when said smooth ing plunger has pushed a capsule from one of said pockets into said cone and before withdrawal of said smoothing plunger from said cone for moving the pocket fingers relatively towards each other to make said pocket smaller to conform to the capsule which has been reduced in size by movement of said smoothing plunger into said cone and which is to be returned to said pocket upon withdrawal of said plunger.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the fingers of each pocket are pivotally mounted on said table and are provided with resilient means urging them together.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 in which 8 a cam is provided between the fingers of each pocket, said fingers being movable by said cam to vary the sizes of said pockets.

4. In a machine for making pleated metal foil capsules from a continuous web having a plurality of work stations including a forming station comprising a forming plunger and a matrix adapted to receive said plunger and cooperating therewith to form a succession of pleated metal foil capsules, a smoothing station comprising a cone and a smoothing plunger movable into and out of said cone and operated in timed relation to said forming plunger to move said capsules into said cone and to smooth and reduce the size of said capsules subsequent to their formation followed by movement of said capsules out of said cone with said plunger, and an ejection station comprising a discharge plunger, the combination therewith of transfer means for successively conveying said capsules from one work station to another, said transfer means comprising a rotatable table, a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted on said table and extending outwardly therefrom, said fingers having arcuately shaped ends and being arranged in pairs to form a plurality of symmetrically arranged pockets adapted to be successively aligned with said work stations and being adapted to permit capsules to be pushed from said pockets into said cone by said smoothing plunger, resilient means urging the fingers of each pair together, a rotatable cam interposed between the fingers of each pair 7 adapted to hold said fingers separated against the bias of said resilient means, means operatively connected to said table adapted intermittently to rotate said table to bring another pocket into alignment with each of said work stations, and means operable when said smoothing lunger has pushed a capsule from one of said pockets into said cone and before withdrawal of said smoothing plunger from said cone for operating the associated rotatable cam to effect movement of the associated pocket ringers to make said associated pocket smaller to conform to the capsule which has been reduced in size by movement of said smoothing plunger into said cone and which is to be returned to said pocket upon withdrawal of said plunger.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4. in which each of said cams contacts an adjustable screw stud provided on each of its associated fingers.

6. In a machine for making pleated metal foil capsules from a continuous web having a plurality of work stations including a forming station comprising a forming plunger and a matrix adapted to receive said plunger and cooperating therewith to form a'succession of pleated metal foil capsules, a smoothing station comprising a cone and a smoothing plunger movable into and out of said cone and operated in timed relation to said forming plunger to move said capsules into said cone and to smooth and reduce the size of said capsules subsequent to their formation followed by movement of said capsules out of said cone with said plunger, and an ejection station comprising a discharge plunger, the combination therewith of transfer means for successively conveying said capsules from one work station to another, said transfer means comprising a rotatable table, a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted on said table and extending outwardly therefrom, said fingers having arcuately shaped ends and being arranged in pairs to form a plurality of symmetrically arranged pockets adapted to be successively aligned with said work stations, said pockets being adapted to permit capsules to be pushed from said pockets into said cone by said smoothing plunger, resilient means urging the fingers of each pair together, a rotatable cam interposed between the fingers of each pair adapted to hold said fingers separated against the bias of said resilient means, means operatively connected to said table adapted intermittently to rotate said table to move another pocket into alignment with each of said work stations, and means including a cam disc concentrio with said table operatively connected to said cams and being oscillatable when said smoothing plunger has pushed a capsule from one of said pockets into said cone and before withdrawal of said smoothing plunger from said cone for operating the associated rotatable cam to effect movement of the associated pocket fingers to make said associated pocket smaller to conform to the capsule which has been reduced in size by movement of said smoothing plunger into said cone and which is to be returned to said pocket upon withdrawal of said plunger.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 6 in which said table and cam disc are driven from a constantly rotating spindle.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 in which said cam disc is operatively connected to an eccentric on said spindle and adapted to be oscillated thereby and said table is driven from said spindle by a Geneva stop mechanism.

9. In a machine for making pleated metal foil capsules from a continuous web having a pinrality of work stations including a forming station comprising a forming plunger and a matrix adapted to receive said plunger and cooperating therewith to form a succession of leated metal foil capsules, a smoothing station comprising a cone and a smoothing plunger movable into and out of said cone and operated in timed relation to said forming plunger to move said capsules into said cone and to smooth and reduce the size of said capsules subsequent to their formation followed by movement of said capsules out of said cone with said lunger, and an ejection station comprising a discharge plunger, the combination therewith of transfer means for successively con- 1O veying said capsules from one work station to another, said transfer means comprising a rotatable table, a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted on said table and extending outwardly therefrom, said fingers having arcuately shaped ends and being arranged in pairs to form a plurality of symmetrically arranged pockets adapted to be successively aligned with said work stations, said pockets being adapted to permit capsules to be pushed from said pockets into said cone by said smoothing plunger, resilient means urging the fingers of each pair together, a rotatable cam interposed between the fingers of each pair adapted to hold said fingers separated against the bias of said resilient means, means operatively connected to said table adapted intermittently to rotate said table to bring another pocket into alignment with each of said work stations, a cam disc mounted concentrically with said table and having a cam track, a lever arm connected to each of said rotatable cams and having means thereon engaging said cam track, and means for oscillating said cam disc when said smoothing plunger has pushed a capsule from one of said pockets into said cone and before withdrawal of said smoothing plunger from said cone for operating the associated rotatable cam to effect movement of the associated pocket fingers to make said associated pocket smaller to conform to the capsule which has been reduced in size by movement of said smoothing plunger into said cone and which is to be returned to said pocket upon withdrawal of said plunger.

DENIS' EASTHOPE. RAILTON. FREDERICK WHITE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

